Device for securing poster-panel sections



1931- J. P. sPEcK ,789,849

DEVICE FOR SECURING POSTER PANEL SECTIONS Filed Feb. 27, 1930 Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orrice JOHN P. sPEcK, 0F TIFFIN, orrro, nssrenon TO THE mam ART METALQ'COL, or warm,

01110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO i.

DEVICE FOR SECURING POSTER-PANEL SECTIONS Application filed February 27, 1930. Serial No. 431,906.

This invention relates to signboards of the type which comprises a number of panelsections secured to a skeleton frame, and more particularly to the means by which such sections are secured.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved. construction for the purpose stated which will make it easy, even for an unskilled workman, to set up the signboard in a very short time. The arrangement is such that one man may slide the sections into proper position and then quickly secure the same by a few strokes of a hammer. I

The distinctive features of the invention will be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a signboard embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating means for securing the panels at a point between their upper and lower ends.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view illustrating the means for securing the panels at the top and bottom. 7

As illustrated in the drawings, the skeleton framework which supports the signboard comprises upright angle bars 5 provided with suitable braces 6 and connected by upper and lower angle bars 7 and 8 respectively. It is also customary to provide one or more intermediate connecting bars, as indicated at 9.

The signboard usually comprises a number of panel sections 10 which are herein illustrated as made from sheet metal with upper and lower flanges 11. The adjacent portions of the channelsectirms are bent to form rectangular rails 12 which embrace channel bars 13..

In order to mount the channel sections, keepers 1 1 are secured to the bars 7 and 8 respectively. In the preferred construction each keeper 14 is formed with an inturned flange 15 to provide a seat for receiving the upper and lower corners of two ad oining panel sections and is also formed with an oppositely turned lip 16 engaglng about the edge of the bar 7 or 8. These keepers,

at 22 so that it engages the rail 12 by a ,wedging action as the lug pivots on the pin "19. The flange 21 is also extended along the rear edge of the lug as shown at 23 to prowhich may be called Z-bars, may extend continuously along the upper and lower eudsoi' the panel sections or may extend only far enough to effect a secure engagement with the adjoining rails 12. r

Inniounting the panel sections, they may be easily inserted in the keepers let and, the 'ad o1n1ng rails 12 secured together by bolts The upper and lower corners of the channel sections may. then be securely clamped to the keepers by means of clamping lugs 18; Each lug18 is mounted on a pivot pin 19 whichextends through a slot 20 and: is screwedv or otherwise secured to the adjacent bar 7 or 8. In the manipulation of the lug 18, it pivots about the inner end of the, slot 20 as indicated by broken lines in Figure The lug is formed with a flange 21 which is curved at its inner end as shown vide a' surface for hammering. After the lug has been turned about its pivot until the flange 21 isrfiat against the edge of. the rail 12, the lug is driven longitudinally of the slot 2O until there is a full engagement of the flange 21 with both of the adjoining rails '12, so that both panels are firmly clamped against the flange 15 of the keeper.

At one or more points between the top and bottom of the signboard the rails 12 may be clamped to an intermediate bar 9. The preferred clamping means for this-purpose includes anL-shaped pin or bolt 24 which is inserted through the two adjacent rails 12 and has a flattened resilient hook-shaped end 25, which, by the blow of a hammer, may be sprung over the bar 9 so that its inturned end 26 engages about the edge of the bar. This spring actionmay be increased by curving the book as shown at 27. The innor end of the bolt 24 may be drawn tight by means of a wedge 28' inserted through a slot in the bolt. As the wedge 28 is driven in, the rails 12 are drawn more tightly against the bar 9 by reason of the gradual curvature of the bolt as shown at 29 From the foregoing description it will be "100 seen that I have provided a device for securing the panel sections to the framework, which is very simple in construction and may be easily manipulated by an unskilled workman by the use of ahammer. IVhile I have shown and described in detail the present form of the invention, it is obvious that the same may be considerably modified without departing materially from the scope of the invention. The panel sections, as wellas the framework, may also be made in various forms and of different material.

hat I claim is: v

1. The combination with a frame, 7 of keepers mounted on the frame, a poster panel, and rotatable and slidable lugs-having wedge portions for clamping the panel to said keepers.

2. The combination with a frame, of a poster panel, keepers mounted on the frame and having opposed ways between which the panel may be slidably inserted, and means for detachably clamping the panel to said keepers.

3. The combination with a frame, of keepers mounted on the frame, a poster panel adapted to be mounted in said keepers, and a lug having a pin and slot connection with each keeper, said lug having a curved wedging portion which is brought into clamping engagement with the panel upon partial rotation of the lug about-the pin, the lug being then slidable longitudinally of the slot into full locking position. i

4. The combination with a frame, of a plurality of poster panel sections, keepers mounted on the frame and having opposed ways between which edges of the adjacent panels may be inserted, and a lug having a pin and slot connection with each keeper, said lug having a curved wedging portion which is brought into clamping engagement with the edge portion of one panel section upon partial rotation of the lug about the pin. the lug being then slidable longitudinally of the slot to effect clamping engagement with the adjacent edge portion of the next section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

JOHN P. 'S'PEC'K. 

